Tennis racket



Patented Nov. 3, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. QUICK, OF DALLAS,.TEXAS.

TENNIS RACKET.

Application filed January 17, 1925. Serial No. 3,184.

To all whom it may concern:

'Be it known that 1, CHARLES F. QUICK, citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Dallas, in the county of Dallas and 5 State ofTexas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in TennisRackets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in tennis rackets.v

The object of the invention is to provide a tennis racket in which thestrings are constantly held under tension, whereby the racket is alwaysin maximum playing condition irrespective of weather or the number 5 ofgames which have been played.

5 form of string spacing and supporting de- 'VICBS.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings,in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a racket constructed in accordance with myinvention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, a portion of the handle beingillustrated in section, and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of the string mountings.

In the drawings the numeral 1.0 designates an elliptical frame havingthe general shape of the ordinary tennis racket now in common use. Atthe base of the frame is a cross bar 11 and a yoke 12. A suitable handle13 is secured in the yoke. This handle may be counter-bored at 14 eitherto lighten the weight or to receive a weight. By this means'the racketis balanced;-

The frame may be made of any suitable material, such as metal, bamboo,wood or other material suitably formed 01, built 4 pose. a

up. The frame has a channel 15 open around its outer side. Inthe bottomof the channel are spaced bosses 16 having flat heads. Strings 17 and18. are laced, respectively longitudinally and transversely of theframe, alternately crossing each other in the ;manner common to thelacing of tennis rackets. These strings may be of wire, gut

or any other material suitable One of the features of theinventionarecurved stirrups 19 around whichthe strings are looped. These stirrupsspace :the complementary lengths or strands apart and thus give to thelacing the proper mesh. As the-strings are looped around the stirrups,sharp or acute bends are thus avoided.- For securing the ends of thestrings posts 20 are fastened in the channel of the frame; Each end ofthe string is fastened to a post, as isshown best in Fig. 3, and thestring is passed through an aperture 21 in the frame.

Each stirrup is supported in the eye 21 on the inner end of a stem 22.Each stem passes through an aperture 23 in the frame and the boss 16,except at the bar 11 where the bossesare omitted, and has its outer endscrew threaded. A spanner nut 2a is mounted on each stem and has areduced shank 25 for engaging in the outer end of a coiled spring 26surrounding the stem and resting against the boss.

The strings are looped around the stirrups 19 which have their convexsides grooved to receive the strings. The stirrups thus support the endsof the loops. The nuts are adjusted to draw the string taut and to placethe springs under compression. It will be seen that the nuts may beadjusted to tension the springs to the desired degree as well as tostretch the strings as desired.

Owing to'the curvature of the stirrups the strings will readily slidethrough the grooves thereof when the nuts are tightened. The strings areunlikely to be broken because the springs yield when the ball is struck.By reason of the rebound incidental to the yielding of the springs andstrings. the ball is gotten away with greater force and speed. Shouldthe strings require adjusting at any time it is merely necessary to turnthe nuts 24 and increase the tension of the springs. However the tensionof the springs is sufiicientto compensate considerfor, the purablevariation in the tautness of the strings.

Various changes in the size and shape of the different parts, as Well asmodifications and alterations 'be made Within the scope of the appendedclaims.

What I claim is: v

1. In a tennis racket, a frame, a plurality of resiliently sustainedmembers movable through the frame, and strings carried by said members.

2. A. tennis racket comprising resiliently supported strings, and meansfor varying thetension on the strings,

3. In a tennis racket, a frame, a plurality of spring tensi'onedmembers,strings supported by said members, and means for varying the tension of'said members.

4'. In a tennis racket, a frame, a plurality of strings: meshed Withinthe frame, and means for resiliently supporting the strings adjustableto give a substantially uniform tension t-o-thestrings.

5. In a tennis racket, a frame, strings laced across the frame, and?adjustable spring tensfoned supports for the strings carried by theframe. 7

6 In a tennis racket, a: frame, strings looped across the frame, andadjustable itaaese spring tensioned supports for the ends of supportedstirrups carried by theframe, and

strings looped from one stirrup to another.

8. In a tennis, racket, a frame, strings looped across the frame, curvedstirrups supporting the ends of the loops and spacing the strands of theloops apart, and spring tensioned supports for the stirrups engaged inthe frame.

9. In a tennis; racket,- a frame, stems slidable in, the frame, stirrupscarried? by the stems, strings looped from one stirrupto another, coiledsprings on the stems, and adjusting nuts on the stems bearing againstsprings. V

10 In a. tennis racket, a framehaving a channel therearound, stemsslidable tlh iqugh the frame altdhaving eyes, curved stirrups Intestimony whereof. I aflix' my; signature.

GHARIJES F QUICK.

in the-eyes Withinthe; frame, strings. looped

